HOME: introduction of myself and my project.
HISTORY OF HUMOR: important studies done in the past, notable figures, and different theories on the origins of humor.
SCIENCE OF HUMOR: how the brain processes humor and the regions involved.
HUMOR TYPES: subpages on darker humor styles and lighter humor styles, with examples in the media and their mental health implications.
HUMOR FOR HEALTH: benefits of humor in clinical and non-clinical settings.
ANDOVER INSIGHTS: conversations with Andover alumni in the comedy industry.
RESOURCES: free mental health resources, neuroscience information, and comedy content.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: cited sources used.
Hi! My name is Morgan Hsu and I am part of the class of 2026 at Phillips Academy Andover. I am from Hong Kong and this is my third year as a student at Andover.
When I was 12, I performed my first comedy stand-up show on Zoom for my friends and family. It was a scary but rewarding experience that brought me gratification and happiness, so I continued writing and performing monologues for the next two years. I submitted some of these videos in my Andover application in 2022 and spent most of my interview talking about what I learned from comedy. In that sense, before I ever stepped foot onto Andover's campus, I felt a very strong connection between this school and comedy.
In April of 2024, when I saw an email from Ms. Torres Hoven about the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library (OWHL) Scholars Program, I thought the opportunity to research my topic of interest, with the guidance and resources of the OWHL, was too good not to try for. As Lowers in their spring term (and now Uppers), my friends and I increasingly used comedy to cope with the chaos of classes, sports, extra-curriculars, and almost everything that troubled us -- no matter the extent. I wanted to learn how comedy and neuroscience were connected, and how that intersection was related to mental health in adolescents. Hopefully, this guide will help others gain more knowledge on humor, neuroscience, and how the combination of both can affect an individual's mental health.
The links and ideas expressed on this libguide are being provided for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library or Phillips Academy of the opinions, services, or products represented by individual, organization, or corporation. The Oliver Wendell Holmes Library bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.